The UFC’s Sept. 1 event has been canceled, according to UFC
President Dana White, who announced Thursday morning that headliner
Dan
Henderson has suffered a partial tear of his MCL that will
prevent him from competing at the event that was to be UFC 151.

White then revealed that Jon Jones was
offered Chael Sonnen
as a replacement opponent, but the light heavyweight champion
turned the fight down.

“Dan
Henderson has a partial tear in his MCL and couldn’t continue.
He tried to train and continue to work out. He saw doctors, and
there was nothing we could do to save the fight. For the first time
in 11 years, we’re going to cancel an event,” said White. “Chael Sonnen
accepted the fight and wanted the fight bad. As of [8 or 9 p.m.]
last night, we had a fight. We started making commercials. The one
thing I never thought would happen happened. Jon Jones
said, ‘I’m not fighting Chael Sonnen
on eight days’ notice.’”

Jones will now square off with Lyoto
Machida on Sept. 22 at the event that was supposed to be UFC
152, which will henceforth be known as UFC 151. The remaining bouts
on the Sept. 1 card will likely be shuffled to future bills, though
White said he was unsure of all the details at this time.

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